An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 2 eBook

By the Walker four iron twelve pounders were
received, and information that copper coinage to the
amount of L550 was in the Porpoise, whose arrival
might be daily looked for. The circulation of
this money would be attended with the most comfortable
accommodation to the people in their various dealings
with each other; and it might be so marked, as to
prevent any inducement to take it out of the colony,
if it should ever be found convenient by government
to order a silver coinage for the use of the settlement,
if it was fixed at not more than half or two thirds
of the intrinsic value of what it might pass for, so
as to render the loss considerable to any one attempting
to carry it away, it would be felt as a considerable
advantage, and would effectually prevent the forgeries
to which a paper currency was liable.

With the Walker came in the Britannia
from her last successful cruise, having now completed
her cargo of oil. The Walker was designed
for the whale fishery.

A complaint having been made by some of the inhabitants
of the town of Sydney respecting the quality of that
very necessary article, the bread that was delivered
to them, the governor directed a meeting of officers
to assemble for the purpose of investigating it; when
it appeared, that the bakers received the wheat as
it was issued, engaging to give in lieu a certain
quantity of bread; but, not having stipulated as to
the quality, returned a loaf in which there was so
much more chaff and bran than flour, that the convicts
feelingly, and not unaptly, termed them scrubbing
brushes. The bakers were heard, and such directions
given as were necessary to remove the evil complained
of.

The arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Paterson had introduced
some alterations and regulations in the corps of which
he had now taken the command. Among others, his
Majesty having been graciously pleased to augment
the pay of the non-commissioned officers, drummers,
and privates of the army, since the 25th day of May
1797, under certain regulations with respect to stoppages,
the regiment was now to receive the benefit of such
increase of pay. From this, three pence halfpenny
per diem was to be deducted, as a payment for the
ration which was issued to them, and which the commissary
was now directed to serve, agreeable to the ration
established by his Majesty’s command for such
of his troops as were serving in Jamaica, Gibraltar,
and New South Wales.

Colonel Paterson having also been instructed to complete
the different companies of the corps, if he could
obtain a sufficient number of proper characters, a
public notice was given, informing such free people
as could bring with them recommendations that would
satisfy the colonel they were deserving of being taken
into his Majesty’s service, that they would
be received, and attested for the regiment.